Chapter 464 - 423: Demanding the Investiture of the Gods List, the Transformation of the Three Realms Begins
Xuanzang couldn’t help but give Zhu Bajie a look when he heard him speak. Sun Wukong went up and grabbed Zhu Bajie by the ear, chuckling as he said, "You fool, you’re usually quite the smooth talker, especially good at pleasing our master. How is it that today you’ve turned into someone else, not seeing that our master is in high spirits? To say such things and dampen his mood, aren’t you just asking for trouble?"
Zhu Bajie pushed Sun Wukong away, rubbing his ear and saying, "They say that honest advice is often unpleasant to the ear. What I, old Pig, say is nothing but the truth."
Sun Wukong couldn’t be bothered to argue with the fool anymore and turned to Xuanzang, saying, "Master, don’t listen to this fool’s rambling. On our way here, we were constantly beset by demons and ghosts, spending more time dealing with them than traveling. By the time we return from seeking scriptures, the journey will be peaceful, familiar roads will make it quick, at most another two or three years and we’ll be back in Chang’an. If master is in a hurry, I, old Sun, can first take the scriptures back to Chang’an and report to the King of Tang. With my speed, I could return in just an hour or two."
Xuanzang was delighted to hear this and laughed, "I knew that when times are tough, Wukong is the one to rely on."
Zhu Bajie sidled up to Sand Monk, rather sourly saying, "Heard that? We’ve both been hauling the load and taking care of the horse, enduring hardships along the way. Even if there’s no credit, there should at least be hard work acknowledged! But in master’s heart, it’s always Brother Monkey who has done the greatest deeds."
Sand Monk, smiling, replied, "If it wasn’t for eldest brother subduing demons and eliminating evil along the way, how could we have safely reached the Western Heaven? We might have been steamed and eaten by monsters midway through our journey. Eldest brother’s contributions are naturally the greatest."
"You really think so too?"
Zhu Bajie sighed in disappointment and obediently closed his mouth, saying no more.
As they were speaking, a Taoist suddenly appeared at the mountain gate with a flash of golden light. He was dressed in a brocade robe, a frequent guest at opulent feasts in the Yaochi Treasure Pavilion; he shook a jade scepter, sweeping away the dust of the purple foundations daily. With fairy scrolls hanging from his elbows and wearing celestial shoes on his feet, he floated like a true feathered gentleman, incredibly handsome and absolutely fantastic.
Having cultivated longevity, he resides in a victorious realm; having achieved eternal life, he has shed the dust of mortality. The holy monk fails to recognize the Mount Meru guest, the Golden Top Immortal from years past.
Upon seeing Xuanzang and the others, the Golden Top Immortal greeted them with a smile, "Are you, by chance, the scripture seekers from the Eastern Land?"